Vibratory weight reducer



April 24, 1951 w. A. ROHLFFS 2,549,933

VIBRATORY WEIGHT REDUCER Filed Oct. 10, 1947 2 Sheets-Shed 1 April 24, 19.51 w. A. ROHLFFS VIBRATORY WEIGHT REDUCER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed OC't. 10, 1947 WI! l llllIIIlll INVENTOR.

s a f M Wm P w IL A WA 5 v. U\B W Patented Apr. 24, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VIBRATORY WEIGHT REDUCER William A. Rohlffs, Lancaster, Pa.

Application October 10, 1947, Serial No. 779,133

2 Claims.

My invention relates to devices for enabling the user thereof to reduce weight by the removal of surplus flesh and relates more particularly to such devices which accomplish the desired result by means of a vibratory belt which partially encircles the user and has its ends connected to a suitable source of power including means for vibrating the belt.

Many domestic washing machines are provided with an impeller so driven by a motor that the impeller has imparted to it a rapid oscillatory movement. I have found that such movement is satisfactory to actuate a weight reducing vibrator. I

With the foregoing in view an object of my invention is to provide an improved weight reducer of the class described.

A further object is to provide means for coupling a vibrator to an oscillating impeller of a Washing machine.

A further object is to provide a novel body encircling belt for a vibratory weight reducer.

Other objects and advantages reside in the particular tructure of the invention, the combination and arrangement of the several parts thereof and will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the attached drawings in connection with the following specification wherein the invention is shown, described and claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a front elevation of a belt of the invention apart from the coupling device;

Figure 2 is an elevation of the coupling of the invention apart from the belt;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the coupling apart from the belt;

Figure 4 is a plan view of a washing machine Showing the belt and coupling in assembled relation and attached operatively to the washing machine;

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical section taken substantially on the plane of the line 5--5 of Figure 4.

Referring specifically to the drawings, wherein like reference characters have been used throughout to designate like parts, I designates an endless elastic member of any suitable material formed to provide an elongated top run H and an elongated bottom run l2 connected to-' gether by relatively short end bights l3 and I4. Substantially identical straps i are connected to the bights l3 and I4 and such straps are preferably formed of elastic material. Any suitable readily detachable connecting members such as 2 the snap hooks l6 are carried by the free ends of the straps [5.

A plurality of body engaging rollers I! are mounted between the upper and lower runs l l and 12 of the member I 0 in laterally spaced relation on parallel axes which are substantially at right angles to the upper and lower runs aforesaid. The rollers l! are rollably mounted on pivot members I8 which connect the upper and lower runs aforesaid and which may comprise any suitable flexible members such as rubber cord or rubber covered wire.

Referring specifically to Figures 4 and 5, 2D designates generally any typical home washing machine having a tub El and a drive shaft 22 which is adapted to be oscillated by any suitable motor, not shown. An impeller 23 is operatively connected to the drive shaft 22 for oscillation therewith and is provided with a plurality of radially extending impeller blades 24.

Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5 illustrate a coupling member for attaching the belt Ii! to the impeller 23. Such coupling member may comprise an inverted cup-shaped device or housing having cylindrical side Walls 25 provided at the bottom edge with a plurality of inwardly and upwardly directed slots 25 which are adapted to fit over the impeller blades 24. Suitable clamping means such as the set screws 28 may be extended from the coupling member to clamp the same to the impeller 23. The coupling member is provided with a substantially circular top wall 21 which has secured thereto in any suitable manner a cross-head or bar 29 which extends outwardly beyond the planes of the walls 25. Centrally of the crosshead 29 and axially of the coupling member there is provided an upstanding swivel eye 30 to which are attached the inner ends of a pair of elastic stabilizing members or straps 31, the outer ends of which are provided with any suitable securing members such as the hooks 32 which are adapted to extend from the cross-head at substantially right angles thereto and engage over the rim 34 of the tub 2!. The free ends of the cross-head 29 are formed to provide suitable means such as the apertures 33 for detachably connecting the hooks N5 of the belt thereto.

It follows from the foregoing, that as the impeller 23 is oscillated with the shaft 22 the coupling member, which extends upwardly above the top of the tub 2!, will be oscillated as will the cross-head 29. Such oscillatory motion is transmitted by the cross-head to the belt [0 and the latter will be oscillated or vibrated therewith.

The rollers I! of the belt prevent injury to the user when the belt is partially encircled around the body or a body member of the user whereby to beneficially massage the body and remove superfluous flesh by such massage. It is to be understood in this connection, that the oscillation or vibration of the belt I0 is extremely rapid and the benefits of the massage achieved thereby may be applied to any part of the body merely by shifting the belt thereon.

While I have shown a particular type of coupling means for a particular type of impeller 23, it is obvious that the couplin member is adapted to be modified to fit impellers of other shape and form. Consequently, while I have shown and described what is thought to be a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is understood that the same is susceptible of other forms and expressions and that I do not limit myself to the precise structures shown and described except as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A power take-off coupling for attachment to an upstanding oscillatory impeller provided with radially extending blades and mounted in a washing machine tub, comprising, an upstanding housing arranged to partially enclose said impeller and having the lower end fixedly secured to said impeller for oscillation therewith, a bar positioned transversely of said housing adjacent the upper end of the latter and fixedly secured intermediate its ends to said housing, means on said bar adjacent each end thereof for attachment to an element to be oscillated, an upstanding swivel eye carried by said bar intermediate the ends thereof and at least two straps arranged in end to end facing relation and each having the facing end secured to said swivel eye, the other end of each of said straps bein provided with means for attachment to the rim of said tub.

2. A power take-01f coupling for attachment to an upstanding oscillatory impeller provided with radially extending blades and mounted in a Washing machine tub, comprising, an upstanding housing arranged to partially enclose said impeller and having the lower end provided with a plurality of spaced longitudinal slots extending inwardly thereof and embracingly engaging the adjacent portions of said blades for oscillation therewith, a bar positioned transversely of said housing adjacent the upper end of the latter and fixedly secured intermediate its ends to said housing, means on said bar adjacent each end thereof for attachment to an element to be oscillated, an upstanding swivel eye carried by said bar intermediate the ends thereof and at least two straps arranged in end to end facing relation and each having the facing end secured to said swivel. eye, and a hook on the other end of each of said straps for attachment to the rim of said tub.

WILLIAM A. ROHLFFS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 662,083 McFadden Nov. 20, 1900 1,805,952 Morgan May 19, 1931 1,827,874 Hemp Oct. 20, 1931 1,913,612 Parsons June 13, 1933 2,281,242 Kilmer Apr. 28, 1942 2,314,981 Heard Mar. 30, 1943 

